THE SHORE-LARK. 63 



at a lower latitude than the former species, and, 

 although almost as abundant as the latter, it is 

 more local. It avoids the marshy districts, and 

 confines itself to dry sandy plains or rocky hills, 

 though it comes down to the mud-shores of the 

 rivers to drink. It is one of the earliest of the 

 small birds to arrive at its breeding-grounds. 

 The Snow-Bunting and the Mealy Redpoll arrive 

 first, and may be seen running about on the snow 

 some weeks before the ice breaks up ; but as soon 

 as the thaw begins in earnest, a batch of small 

 birds arrive, amongst which is sure to be the 

 Shore-Lark. In latitude 60°, in the Valley of the 

 Petchora, I saw the first on the loth of May ; 

 but in latitude 66^°, in the Valley of the Yenesei, 

 I did not see this bird until the 2nd of June. 

 They afterwards passed through both stations in 

 great numbers. 



" The Shore- Larks seem to be entirely ground 

 birds. On the banks of the Petchora I have seen 

 both the Common Gull and the Common Snipe 

 perched in trees, and in the Valley of the Yenesei 

 I have shot a Golden Plover from the summit of 

 a larch ; but I have never seen the Shore-Lark 

 perch on a tree or even on a bush. It seems to 



